Improvement in swinging berths for ships



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS P. FORD, OE BROOKLYN, AssreNOR OF ONE-HALF Hrs EIGHT TO THOMAS s.DIOK, OE GREEN POINT, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN SWINGING BERTHS FOR SHIPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 167,091, dated August24, 1875; application filed June 4, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS P. FORD, of the city of Brooklyn, county ofKings, State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements inShips7 Berths and I do hereby declare that the following, taken inconnection with the drawings which accompany and form part of thisspecification, is a description of my invention suiiicient to enablethose skilled in the art to practice it.

The object of my invention is to limit and control the motion of theberth, and so to carry it by an oscillating frame and axle connected toan oscillating' cross-beam that it shall have free motion Within certainpredetermined limits, and that the equilibrium of the berth shall alwaysbe maintained while the vessel moves or sways laterally or longitudinally, any change or tendency to change from a horizontal level ofthe vessel being met and compensated for by the weight of the berth insuspension; and to eti'ect these ends my invention consists insupporting or carrying the berth on a crossaxle, at such point in itslength as will balance evenly when the berth is occupied, or at aboutfour inches nearer the head than to the foot end of the full-sizedberth. This axle is centered in and carried by a frame or rods, and ismade to oscillate longitudinally by means of suspension-rods, which areconnected to an oscillating cross-beam centered to the bulk-head, theproper angle longitudinally being maintained by guide-frames jointed attheir upper ends to the cross-beam near its center, and at the lower endjointed to the under side of the berth by two connectingrods, and madeto oscillate free from the carrier-frame, and by this means compellingthe berth to maintain a level longitudinally at all points within thelimits of its action. The lateral motion is obtained from the centers ofsuspension, and may be limited by shackle or stop at any point.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a longitudinalelevation, and Fig. 2 a transverse section, of a berth constructed inaccordance with my invention.

Referring to Fig. l, the berth is carried. on the axle by thecarrier-frame G, which is connected with cross-beam D by means oi' thesuspension-rods d d. The axle B, it will be seen, is not placedcentrally of the berth or of the frame C, but nearer to one of theirends than to the other, andthe lowest point of the berth is alsocorrespondingly at one side of its center. This peculiarity Ofconstruction adapts4 the berth to the preponderance of weight in theupper part of the human body, and permits it to balance evenly in thedirection of its length when occupied. The crossbeam D is centered tothe bulk-heads E, thus forming a support for the carriage of the berththat will allow it to oscillate either longitudinally or transversely.The guide-frames F are each connected by joints or hinges with hangersor brackets G, secured to the under side of the berth by means of twoconnectingrods, f f, and also to one of the cross-beams at f. Thisconstruction compels the berth to maintain a level as the motion of thevessel oscillates the carrier-frame longitudinally. H is a hand-leverfor locking the berth when desired, to prevent its lateral orlongitudinal sway or swing. It is connected at its lower and shorter armto a compound system of 1e vers for operating` the friction-bolts I I,and is locked to the desired position by being brought into engagementwith one of the teeth of the ratchet K on the arm L attached to thecarrier-frame C. The compound system of levers shown consists of alever, m, directly connected with lever H at one end, and at its otherend to a swivel, n, to each end of which'one ofthe slide-bolts I I isconnected, these bolts being arranged to play through suitable guides,and provided at their ends with friction-pads, which, when the bolts areforced outward, press against the bulk-heads E, and lock thecarriage-frame.

This construction relieves or frees the berth itself from all strain inthe process of locking.

The same principle and method of maintaining an equilibrium as abovedescribed for a berth,.it is evident, may be applied to other things,as, for instance, to a cabin, sofa, chair, table, platform, car, 8vo.

1 claim- 1. The berth carried and balanced on an y oscillating axle, B,at or near the center of its length, in combination with theframe-carriage C, suspension-rods d d, oscillating cross-beams D. andguide-frames F unattached to the carriage, and jointed at the top to thecrossbeam D, and by a double connection-rod to the under side of theberth at G, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a swinging berth, the means of locking and controlling themovements of the' carriage-frame between the bulk-heads, consisting ofbolts I l, combined with a system of levers, substantially as described,operated by a hand-lever, H, and ratchet, or its equivalent,substantially as and for the purpose above set forth.

3. The described method of compensating, in a suspended .andself-balancin g berth, for the preponderance of Weight in the upper partof the human body by supporting the berth at a point in vits length moreor less removed from its center, such point of support being locatedbeneath the lowest point of the berth, substantially as set forth.

rrHos. P. FORD.

Witnesses:

WM. H. HosIER, Taos. S. DICK.

